The Hindu : National : Manmohan Singh meets Nazarbayev, Koizumi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006

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Manmohan Singh meets Nazarbayev, Koizumi

Thanks Russia for supporting candidacy for Security Council

St. Petersburg: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev on the sidelines of the ongoing G8 Summit here on Monday.

Official sources told reporters that the leaders exchanged views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern and interest.

The issue of energy cooperation and security also came up for discussion, the sources said. Mr. Nazarbayev told Dr. Singh that "investing in Kazakhstan is very beneficial."

Japan visit

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, at a meeting with Dr. Singh, said he looked forward to welcoming Dr. Singh in Tokyo in December.

Dr. Singh sought Japan's support in the Nuclear Suppliers Group for altering guidelines to ensure full civil nuclear cooperation to India.

Seeks support

for Tharoor

Dr. Singh, in an interview to Interfax news agency, expressed the hope that Russia would fully back the candidacy of Shashi Tharoor for the post of U.N. Secretary-General.

"Mr. Shashi Tharoor, Under Secretary-General at the United Nations, is India's candidate for the post of the U.N. Secretary-General. In view of his impeccable credentials and our traditionally close relations with Russia, we naturally expect Russia's wholehearted support for his candidature."

He also thanked Russia for its continued support to India's candidacy for permanent membership of the reformed Security Council.

Dr. Singh said short-term considerations should not stand in the way of the compelling need for reforms in the Council.

To a question whether India intended to become a member of the G8, Dr. Singh said he was not sure how things would develop.

"At St. Petersburg, I was present at the invitation of the Russian President. India was a special invitee at meetings between the G8 leaders and the outreach countries. It is difficult to speak of what lies ahead, but we will wait and see how things evolve." — Agencies

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